Thursday, 3 March 2011

Japanese teenager Ryo Miyaichi has explained for the first time how he came to sign for Arsenal.

The 18-year-old signed professional terms with the Gunners in the summer.

Arsene Wenger had hope to be able to integrate the pacey attacker into his squad this season but was prevented by the Football Association who wouldn't grant the 18-year-old a special talent visa.

Instead the Japanese youngster joined Feyenoord on loan until the summer.

Asked how he came to join the Gunners, Miyaichi said:

"[Arsenal] is a wonderful team and I very happy to be a part of it.

"I joined the training session in August and I was very fortunate to be rated by Mr Wenger and I believe this led to the result [of me being signed]."

"It's my dream to play for them [Arsenal]. So I made the decision [to sign] there and then.

"[Arsene Wenger's] every word made me more confident and that made me want to play for Arsenal even more. So he had a lot of influence on my decision.

"He told me to learn English quickly and he told me that his ground is my home. That really touched me."

Miyaichi's pacey dribbling and attacking play has already earned him rave reviews in the Dutch media.

Asked who his favourite player was, he told the interviewer it was Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo.

He added:

"With the Arsenal side it's Nasri. any players whose strength is their dribbling.

"I like his ability to dribble through tight gaps. I saw him to do that a lot this season and that's something I can learn a lot from."

The 18-year-old was on trial at Ajax when he got injured. He's now fit and back to his best.

He said:

"Yes, the story about my injury is true. It happened while I was at the training session at Ajax.

"I was kicked on my leg and it caused a hairpin fracher of my fibula.

"I'm fully recovered now and I'm playing well."

As with all foreign youngsters out on loan from the club, Arsenal have organised for Miyaichi to have English tuition.

Asked how he thought he would adapt to the English game, Miyaichi said:

"I'm learning English very much at the moment. I think I'll be just fine as soon as I get over the language barrier."

Miyaichi will return to Arsenal in the summer to train with the squad in pre-season prior to another loan spell, unless an agreement is reached with a foreign club for the teenager to continue his development elsewhere.